Hold onto your space helmets, fellow web enthusiasts.
I, Sam Szuchan, have ventured into the digital cosmos to explore a new frontier of web hosting: Rocket.net.
As someone who’s spent thousands of Earth hours grappling with web hosts, I’m bringing you an honest, no-nonsense, hands-on Rocket.net review to help you decide if this platform is the right launchpad for your online endeavors.
In this interstellar journey, I’ll share my experiences, insights, and tests to enhance the value of our odyssey.
So, whether you’re a seasoned webmaster seeking a new hosting galaxy or a newbie astronaut just starting your digital voyage, let’s embark on this adventure and uncover the secrets of the Rocket.net universe.
Stay tuned as we boldly go where no WordPress site has gone before!
Blast-off: The Rocket.net Setup Process
Every space mission starts with a countdown. In the web hosting world, this equates to the setup process.
So, let’s examine how Rocket.net’s onboarding procedure fares compares to its interplanetary counterparts.
First things first, let’s address the lunar elephant in the room: Rocket.net requires an upfront fee (i.e. time to whip out the credit card) to initiate your digital journey, unlike other hosts.
Now, while this might seem like a bumpy start, hold onto your moon boots—there’s more to this story.
As I fired up my own Rocket.net account, I found the process to be as smooth as a moonwalk.
The interface was sleek, user-friendly, and, dare I say it, light-years ahead of the competition.
Even my main host, Cloudways, pales in comparison when it came to the simplicity of getting a site off the ground.
From entering your domain name to choosing your hosting plan, the steps were as clear as the vacuum of space.
Plus, with their interstellar support team guiding you through the process, you’ll feel like you have your very own mission control.
So while that initial investment might sting a little, the ease of use and hassle-free setup make it worth the ride.
Speed, Specs, and Stellar Support: Rocket.net’s Cosmic Advantages
The true test of any web host is in its performance. After all, what good is our Rocket.net if it doesn’t zoom through cyberspace?
So let’s talk hardware: Rocket equips your digital spaceship with a whopping 32 CPU cores and 128GB RAM, complemented by NVMe SSDs, Redis, and LiteSpeed’s PHP.
These powerful components ensure your site zips through the internet like a comet.
Now, onto their Cloudflare Enterprise: it’s like strapping a supercharger to your site.
While other dedicated WordPress hosts (like Kinsta) may offer Cloudflare services, Rocket.net takes it up a notch.
It’s free, set up automatically, and includes full-page caching, Argo Smart Routing, load balancing, and image optimization.
This means you get the best of both worlds—the performance boost of Cloudflare and the ease of use from Rocket.net.
Worried about PHP worker limitations? Rocket.net laughs in the face of such restrictions.
Plus, you get extra Enterprise CDN features like prioritized routing, HTTP/3, and an extensive CDN network with over 250+ locations.
My Speed Test Results
This speed section wouldn’t be complete without proper testing.
Here’s my humble test site’s GTMetrix score:
While this score is undoubtedly impressive, remember that it was merely a test site I was running, and a live site is heavier (but not that much heavier; this is still an amazing score).
That said, what’s impressive in any scenario is the time-to-first-byte (TTFB). With a blistering speed of 79ms, the galactic verdict is clear: Rocket.net lives up to its name.
My PageSpeed score was similarly impressive, yielding a 0ms blocking time with a 0.4s first contextual paint (FCP).
Now that’s what I call hyperspace.
The Man Behind the Mission: Ben Gabler
When it comes to web hosting, we rarely focus on the individuals steering the ship.
But in the case of Rocket.net, one celestial body shines brighter than the rest: CEO Ben Gabler.
His unwavering dedication to making Rocket the greatest host in galactic history is truly a sight to behold.
You might be wondering, “What’s so special about a CEO?”
Well, my fellow digital explorers, let me take you on a journey through the stars that make up Ben’s impressive constellation of skills and dedication.
In the vast cosmos of hosting companies, it’s not every day that you find a CEO ready to jump into the trenches with their team.
Ben Gabler is not your average CEO.
He’s the kind of leader who’s not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty in pursuing intergalactic hosting excellence.
Imagine you’re calling Rocket.net’s support line, expecting a friendly customer service rep to help you with your hosting woes.
To your astonishment, you hear Ben’s voice on the other end of the line. Yes, that’s right—the CEO himself!
It’s like dialing a helpline and having Jeff Bezos answer your questions about delivery logistics.
Ben’s level of commitment is so extraordinary that it permeates throughout the entire company.
From the robust infrastructure to the exceptional customer support, it’s evident that his mission is to make Rocket nothing short of the best web host in the known universe.
While it may seem unusual to highlight a CEO as an asset, Ben Gabler is truly an exception.
His dedication to making Rocket.net the top host in the industry is not only commendable but also contagious.
Sleek and Intuitive Dashboard
Navigating the control center of a new web host can feel like wandering through an alien landscape.
But Rocket’s dashboard is like a beacon of light in the vast, dark cosmos of web hosting user interfaces.
For a seasoned host-hopper like myself, the ease of use and intuitiveness of Rocket.net’s dashboard was like stumbling upon a wormhole to a more user-friendly dimension.
It’s so simple I’d feel confident recommending it to even the greenest WordPress newcomers—unlike the more sophisticated and complex dashboards of other hosts like Cloudways.
When exploring Rocket.net’s dashboard, I found that everything I needed was exactly where I expected it to be.
It’s like gazing at the night sky and finding all your favorite constellations aligned perfectly.
But the real magic of Rocket.net’s dashboard lies in its unique features.
For the first time in my web hosting escapades, I discovered I could access plugins and themes directly from the dashboard.
This game-changing capability is something I’ve never encountered with any other host.
And let’s not forget the dreaded process of creating a staging site—a task that often feels like assembling a spaceship without instructions.
Rocket.net, however, makes this process as easy as pie (or should I say space food?).
Even with my beloved Cloudways, creating a staging site was often messy, but Rocket.net has truly revolutionized the experience.
Rocket’s Approach to Storage
While exploring the cosmos of web hosting, it’s natural to be drawn to the vastness of storage space.
However, my fellow spacefaring friends, it’s essential to remember that size isn’t everything.
In the case of Rocket.net, they’ve chosen to prioritize the quality of their specs over the sheer volume of storage.
Allow me to elaborate on this interstellar strategy.
It’s true that at first glance, Rocket.net’s storage offerings might seem modest compared to other web hosts. But don’t take your helmet off, for there’s a method to this cosmic madness.
By focusing on high-quality specs like NVMe SSDs, Redis, and LiteSpeed’s PHP, Rocket.net ensures that your site will perform at warp speed, leaving sluggish load times and server hiccups in the dust.
Think of it this way: would you rather pilot a colossal but lumbering spaceship or a nimble, sleek starfighter?
While other hosts may boast larger storage capacities, they often do so at the expense of performance.
Rocket.net, on the other hand, opts for the agile approach—prioritizing the quality of your site’s journey through the digital universe.
So, unless you’re hosting massive amounts of video, don’t let the prospect of limited storage deter you from Rocket’s mission.
Most websites will find their storage offerings more than sufficient.
And with the powerful specs they provide, you’ll be navigating the online cosmos with unmatched speed and efficiency.
If this is a dealbreaker for you, check out Cloudways. Their storage is more generous, and their speeds are still exceptional.
Picture-Perfect Optimization
In the digital universe, a well-optimized image can be the difference between a site that soars and one that’s grounded by sluggish load times.
The good news is, Rocket.net’s got you covered with its image optimization features, Cloudflare Mirage and Polish.
These celestial tools mean you can finally bid farewell to image optimization plugins and their often-convoluted configurations.
Imagine embarking on your Rocket.net voyage and discovering that your site’s images are automatically optimized, thanks to the integrated Cloudflare Mirage and Polish features.
It’s like stumbling upon a wormhole that eliminates the need for additional plugins, simplifying your interstellar journey through the digital realm.
Cloudflare Mirage and Polish work together in perfect harmony to ensure your site’s images are always optimized for speed and performance.
Mirage ensures your images are efficiently loaded on any device, while Polish compresses and optimizes images without sacrificing quality.
It’s like having your very own team of spacefaring artists, meticulously refining your site’s visual elements for an out-of-this-world user experience.
By integrating Cloudflare Mirage and Polish, Rocket.net not only streamlines the image optimization process but also liberates you from the shackles of additional plugins.
No more fiddling with settings or keeping an eye on plugin updates—Rocket.net’s got your back.
Bandwidth Limitations
As we traverse the cosmos of web hosting, it’s crucial to examine not only the shining stars but also the potential black holes lurking in the shadows.
In the case of Rocket.net, one such enigma lies in their low bandwidth limits.
While it’s essential to approach every web host with an open mind, even I, your seasoned spacefaring guide, was puzzled by this particular aspect of Rocket.net’s offering.
Picture this: you’re navigating the stellar landscape of hosting plans, comparing Rocket.net’s offerings to the likes of Cloudways, pictured here:
Suddenly, you notice that Cloudways allows for much larger bandwidth limits on their less expensive plans.
This revelation sends you spiraling into a vortex of questions, wondering why Rocket.net’s bandwidth limits are so modest in comparison.
But upon further investigation, I realized it was a trade-off: lower bandwidth amounts in exchange for better quality (like with storage).
So while you don’t get as much on paper as other hosts, what you do get is much faster and more stable.
No Email Hosting
In the grand scheme of web hosting, there’s one thing you might notice missing from Rocket.net’s cosmic arsenal: email hosting.
But before you start seeing red like an angry Martian, let’s put this into perspective.
Sure, having email hosting bundled with your web hosting might seem like a convenience, but it’s not always the best option.
It’s like expecting your favorite spaceship to come with a built-in intergalactic diner—sure, it would be nice, but there are better places to grab a space burger.
In reality, you’re better off with a dedicated email service like Google Workspace, anyway.
By entrusting your electronic communications to the pros at Google, you’re ensuring top-notch security, reliability, and seamless integration with other productivity tools.
It’s like upgrading from a clunky spacewalk to cruising in a sleek space scooter.
So, while it’s worth noting Rocket.net’s lack of email hosting, it’s hardly a deal-breaker.
In fact, it might just nudge you in the direction of a superior solution for your online communication needs.
With Google Workspace, you’ll be zipping through your emails like a pro, leaving you more time to focus on your website’s journey through the digital universe.
Caching Made Easy
Navigating the world of web hosting can sometimes feel like a maze of complicated caching solutions.
With other hosts, you might find yourself in a scene reminiscent of Inception, where synchronizing everything just right seems like an impossible task.
But fear not, fellow digital explorers! Rocket.net has made caching easy and extremely straightforward—it’s like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy spaceship.
Caching, for those unfamiliar, is a process that temporarily stores copies of your website’s files, allowing them to load faster when visitors access your site.
With Rocket.net, you don’t have to worry about manually integrating caching tools or getting lost in complex configurations.
They’ve taken care of everything, ensuring that caching is as effortless as a leisurely spacewalk.
Backup Bliss
In the realm of web hosting, having reliable backups is as essential as oxygen on a space mission.
With Rocket.net, you can breathe easy knowing that their backup management is incredibly simple and user-friendly.
Gone are the days of fumbling with convoluted backup procedures or feeling like you’re navigating a minefield of potential disasters.
Rocket.net’s backup management ensures that you always have a safety net for your website’s data.
It’s like having a trusty co-pilot, always there to lend a hand in case of turbulence.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s essential to remember that even the best co-pilots can’t do everything.
While Rocket.net’s backup system is fantastic, it’s always wise to store backups with a third party as well.
This way, you won’t have all your eggs in one basket, ensuring that your digital cargo remains safe even in the event of unforeseen hiccups.
A popular option for this additional layer of security is UpDraft, an easy-to-use backup plugin that stores your data wherever you want (like Google Drive).
Stellar Support (Pun Intended)
In the vast universe of web hosting, technical support can make or break your experience.
And as much as the term gets tossed around, Rocket is genuinely the industry leader in client support.
These hosting masters are so well-versed in their craft that they can make even the most seasoned webmasters feel like fresh-faced amateurs.
And while I’m trying not to sound overly cheery, the truth is, their support is just that good.
What sets Rocket.net’s technical support apart?
For starters, the CEO himself is actively involved in providing assistance whenever possible.
It’s like having the captain of the starship personally guide you through the trickiest intergalactic obstacles.
This level of dedication from the top down demonstrates Rocket.net’s commitment to providing top-notch service for every customer, regardless of their experience level.
The support team’s expertise doesn’t stop at the CEO, though.
Each member is skilled in the art of web hosting, ready to tackle even the most complex issues with ease.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, you can rest assured that the Rocket.net support team has your back, helping you confidently navigate your online adventure.
The Price of Quality
It’s no secret that Rocket.net’s pricing is higher than other hosts, particularly as your website scales.
However, in the world of hosting, you often get what you pay for, and Rocket.net is no exception.
Rocket.net isn’t targeting budget-conscious users who prioritize low costs above all else.
Instead, their service is tailored for those who are willing to invest in quality.
With their top-notch performance, robust features, and stellar support, the extra cost is justified for users who want the best for their online presence.
Think of it this way: Rocket.net is like a luxury spaceship designed for those seeking a premium intergalactic experience.
While it may not be the most affordable option, the outstanding performance and exceptional service make it worth the investment for those who appreciate the finer things in the web hosting cosmos.
To Infinity and Beyond!
After my hands-on experience with Rocket.net, I can confidently say that their top-notch performance, user-friendly dashboard, exceptional technical support, and comprehensive features make them a strong contender in the hosting galaxy.
While Rocket.net’s pricing may be higher than other options, their premium experience justifies the cost for those who value quality and are willing to invest in their website’s success.
From their foolproof caching solution to their dedicated technical support team, Rocket.net’s crafted a stellar hosting experience catering to users seeking only the fastest and most reliable for their online presence.
